[SOLVED] How to change default O/S from Ubuntu to Windows 7?

KVIKRAMAN · 05-05-2011, 08:57 AM

I have a dual booting set up with Ubuntu as default O/S and Windows 7. wish to have Windows 7 as my default O/S. I tried by clicking Alt+F2 and entering 'Sudo gedit/boot/grub/menu.lst' but nothing happens. Please help.

yancek · 05-05-2011, 09:10 AM

Check the Ubuntu forums site below which has multiple ways to do it:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1308665

Soadyheid · 05-05-2011, 09:11 AM

Have you got access to "Startup Manager" in Ubuntu? Probably under Administation or Preferances. If so, set the default OS to Windows 7 in the drop down and close and that should hopefully be it.

I got this info from the picture here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grub_2

Play Bonny!

Mr. Bill · 05-05-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soadyheid

Have you got access to "Startup Manager" in Ubuntu? Probably under Administation or Preferances. If so, set the default OS to Windows 7 in the drop down and close and that should hopefully be it.

I got this info from the picture here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grub_2

Play Bonny!

If you don't have it, it can be installed from the Ubuntu Software Center, and yes it works.

MTK358 · 05-05-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KVIKRAMAN

I have a dual booting set up with Ubuntu as default O/S and Windows 7. wish to have Windows 7 as my default O/S. I tried by clicking Alt+F2 and entering 'Sudo gedit/boot/grub/menu.lst' but nothing happens. Please help.

It's "sudo", not "Sudo", and also there should be a space between "gedit" and the path (the way it is now, it's trying to look for for the "menu.lst" command in the directory "gedit/boot/grub", which of course doesn't exist).

ronlau9 · 05-05-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KVIKRAMAN

I have a dual booting set up with Ubuntu as default O/S and Windows 7. wish to have Windows 7 as my default O/S. I tried by clicking Alt+F2 and entering 'Sudo gedit/boot/grub/menu.lst' but nothing happens. Please help.

The latest version of Ubuntu use GRUB 2 .
Grub 2 do not have a menu.lst .
But do have grub.cfg .
It is use full to read about the difference between grub 1 and grub 2

Mr. Bill · 05-05-2011, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronlau9

The latest version of Ubuntu use GRUB 2 .
Grub 2 do not have a menu.lst .
But do have grub.cfg .
It is use full to read about the difference between grub 1 and grub 2

True, however, grub.cfg is a read-only file. While one can change permissions and edit it manually, the changes will be overwritten the next time update-grub is executed. To properly change default menu settings, you need to edit the /etc/default/grub file, then run update-grub to add the changes to grub.cfg.

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

then

Code:

sudo update-grub

or install Startup Manager from Ubuntu Software Center.

ronlau9 · 05-05-2011, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Bill

True, however, grub.cfg is a read-only file. While one can change permissions and edit it manually, the changes will be overwritten the next time update-grub is executed. To properly change default menu settings, you need to edit the /etc/default/grub file, then run update-grub to add the changes to grub.cfg.

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/default/grub

then

Code:

sudo update-grub

or install Startup Manager from Ubuntu Software Center.

Yes you're solution works no doubt at all .
But in my opinion still OP should learn the difference between GRUB 1 and GRUB 2 .
Next time he runs again to a problem he has good a change to solve it on his own .

Mr. Bill · 05-05-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronlau9

Yes you're solution works no doubt at all .
But in my opinion still OP should learn the difference between GRUB 1 and GRUB 2 .
Next time he runs again to a problem he has good a change to solve it on his own .

Very true, as there is quite a difference. Another example- to manually add a new entry, you no longer edit an existing file, but rather, write a script, make it executable, add it to the /etc/grub.d folder, then again run update-grub to place the changes in grub.cfg. One needs to know the proper layout, syntax, and naming convention of the script for it to work correctly.